The CII says it is designed for experienced advisers who would prefer not to take exams in order to meet QCF level four requirements.

The alternative assessment breaks down into three stages.

Firstly, advisers considering the alternative assessment route can use a free diagnostic tool to test how suitable the alternative assessment will be for them.

If they decide to go ahead, advisers then have to submit a portfolio of evidence, including details of any relevant qualifications and continuing professional development.

Finally advisers go through an assessment day, with each candidate assessed by two trained CII assessors. The assessment day is based on four realistic case studies and a technical interview to establish the adviser has the required knowledge and skill levels.

The alternative assessment costs £1,950.

CII director of financial services markets Steve Jenkins (pictured) says: “It has taken six months of intensive work with input from both practitioners and the FSA to develop this alternative assessment route, but we are pleased to be able to provide advisers with a genuinely alternative option to exams.”

I think that it is very irresponsible that an adviser can get the Diploma Status after a one day course when others have been studying and taking exams for months on end to gain the same creditation.The system needs a complete shake up and new management as the people currently in charge obviously have no idea.

I can assure you that the Alternative Assessment is tough and the equal of the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning offered by the CII.

We worked closely with the FSA, our assessors (Chartered Financial Planners) and our candidates to ensure that this was a genuine test that would be viewed as robust, credible and worthy of public confidence. It's worth pointing out that candidates are being assessed on the contents of a suite of exam RO units that equate to the first year of a degree. All of this over the course of a day. You may think that's easy but I can assure you that and successful candidates will have earned their qualification.

This assessment process will see two trained assessors (Chartered Financial Planners) spending a (very) full day with a candidate.

You will appreciate that such a tailored service carries with it significantly more cost than traditional examinations. Specifically the cost of training the asessors, the cost of providing the assessors with the necessary hardware and software e.g. laptops, the cost of travel and other expenses, the cost of paying the asessors for their time, the cost of piloting, developing and launching an alternative assessment. Taking all of the above into account I think your criticism of the CII is unfair. It's also worth pointing out that the costs are comparable with those alternative asessments offered by other professions.

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